TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City are keen to sign Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld, who is currently on a season-long loan at Southampton from Atletico Madrid, but Saints have a £6.8m option on the 25-year-old.(Daily Mail)

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is preparing to spend in excess of £150m on five new players - a right-back, centre-back, midfielder, winger and striker - in the summer. (Daily Express)

The Times backpage

Liverpool are preparing a bid for Borussia Dortmund's 24-year-old striker Ciro Immobile in the summer and reports suggest the German side will let him go. (Daily Star)

OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, 52, is expected to sign a new four-year contract at Stamford Bridge in the summer despite having two years left on his current deal. (The Times - subscription required)

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes says Lionel Messi is so good that when the Red Devils played Barcelona he hoped the Argentine would take up positions as far away from him as possible. (Independent)

Paul Scholes faced Lionel Messi four times

Former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry, 37, who is being touted as a potential long-term successor to manager Arsene Wenger, has joined the club's backroom staff in role focused on youth development. (Daily Mail)

Newcastle United have offered striker Siem de Jong, 26, a coaching role during his rehabilitation from lung operation. (Daily Mirror)

Chelsea supporters have the worst record in the Premier League for arrests for racist or indecent chanting, according to official Home Office statistics. (Metro)

Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard thinks manager Manuel Pellegrini is very similar to his former boss at Chelsea Carlo Ancelotti. (The Sun - subscription required)

Gary Neville, former Manchester United star and England coach, is expected to complete the final qualification he would need to launch a managerial career - the Uefa Pro Licence - this summer. (The Times - subscription required)

SOCIAL MEDIA

Juan Cuadrado joined the Blues from Fiorentina in the January transfer window

Mamadou Sakho has been helping his team-mate Steven Gerrard get fit by assisting with his rehab, as the Liverpool captain revealed on his Instagram page.

Charlie Austin could have a career as a detective when he hangs up his boots after successfully predicting #whokilledlucy. On Tuesday the QPR striker striker claimed Bobby was the killer and he's been gripped by the live episodes since. On Wednesday he also tweeted "Bobby Beale #killedlucy" - we should have listened Charlie!

Romeo Beckham has joined brother Brooklyn at Arsenal after playing for their academy side against Liverpool. Dad David travelled to the North West to see his middle son make his Gunners debut.(Liverpool Echo)